QINGDAO has been built into a green city over the past five years by developing modern forestry.

    The city was listed as one of the national model cities in tree-planting April 1.

    Nearly 37 percent of the total city area will be covered by greenery by the end of this year, an increase of 5 percent compared with 2005. The incidence of forest fires is 0.04 percent, much lower than required by national forest fire control authorities.

    All the greenery has undergone pest control and 85 percent was with environmentally friendly pesticides.

    A series of green projects had been launched such as planting trees along the Qingdao-Yinchuan Expressway, building Danshan Modern Forestry Park and air-seeding on isolated mountains.

    Citizens and companies were encouraged to plant anniversary trees. More than 90 percent of Qingdao people, nearly 179 million, have planted trees during the past five years.

    Qingdao started 10 projects last year to further green the city at a cost of 200 million yuan (US$30m).

    Four of the 10 projects are almost finished, adding 12.5 million trees covering an area of about 82.6 million square meters.(Chen Ting, Wang Liyan)